Djokovic threatens Murray's Grand Slam dream

Djokovic threatens Murray's Grand Slam dream

Andy Murray is on the verge of crowning Britain's golden summer by ending one of the longest droughts in sport. Only the formidable figure of Novak Djokovic stands in his way of winning Monday's US Open men's final.

'Winning a major is the last thing that I really want to do'

A more versatile and more accomplished player, Murray is through to his fifth grand slam final in five seasons, but as the records show, he lost his four previous finals and Britain's agonising wait continues.

Djokovic is man on his own mission

Murray has hardly put a foot wrong at Flushing Meadows this past fortnight, dropping just three sets on his way to the final, raising expectations that he can finally breakthrough.

A win would cap a glorious summer for Britain, in which cyclist Bradley Wiggins won the Tour de France and the host-nation won 29 gold medals at the London Olympics.

But Djokovic is man on his own mission. Like Murray, the 25-year-old Serbian spent years living in the shadow of Federer and Rafa Nadal, but has emerged physically and mentally stronger and determined to seize every opportunity he gets.

He has already five Grand Slam titles, including last year's US Open final, and has dropped only one set in getting to Monday's final.

'I guess there is no clear favourite'

Djokovic has won the last three Grand Slams played on hard courts and holds an 8-6 lead over Murray in their head-to-head matches, including last year's Australian Open final, and is expecting a tough match.

"Most of our matches that we played against each other were very close and only small margins decided the winner," Djokovic said.

"We are big rivals and we have been in top of the men's game for a long time, so we know each other really well.

"(Murray won) the last match in the Olympic Games but it's a different surface, obviously, and with the different surface different tactics apply."

Djokovic, through to his fourth US Open final and chasing his second win, dismissed the notion that Murray's previous near-misses gave him extra incentive to succeed in a match which has all the makings of a classic.

"I guess there is no clear favourite," he said. "He's going to be very motivated to win the title but me too."